By: Dr. Nzuzi Katondi, WHO Neglected Tropical Diseases Officer in Angola
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (NTD), marked every year on January 30, is an opportunity to reflect on a public health problem that continues to affect millions of people around the world and thousands of Angolans, especially in the most vulnerable communities.
NTDs encompass a range of preventable and treatable diseases, many of which can be eliminated or eradicated. Despite global progress, these diseases continue to place a significant burden on health systems and the socioeconomic development of affected countries. In 2024, approximately 1.4 billion people worldwide required interventions against NTDs, a significant reduction of 36% compared to 2010. By early 2026, 58 countries had eliminated at least one NTD, demonstrating that elimination is possible with consistent investment and effective leadership.
However, this progress is under threat. The reduction in international funding for global health, particularly for NTD programs, jeopardizes the gains achieved. This scenario is especially worrying when we know that there are low-cost, high-impact interventions, such as preventive chemotherapy, which generate economic and social benefits far greater than the investment made.
Angola, for its part, continues to face a high burden of neglected tropical diseases. Of the 21 NTDs recognized by the World Health Organization, 16 are endemic in the country, many of them simultaneously in the same communities and in the same person. Among the most prevalent are lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trachoma, human African trypanosomiasis, leprosy, cutaneous leishmaniasis, venomous snake bites, and dracunculiasis. Historical records also point to the presence of diseases such as Buruli ulcer, visceral leishmaniasis, and yaws.
In recent years, the Angolan government, with the support of national and international partners, has been working to implement the five strategies recommended by the WHO, namely preventive chemotherapy, case management, vector control, access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and veterinary public health measures. Between 2024 and 2025, notable advances include disease mapping, prevalence studies in several provinces, enhanced surveillance of dracunculiasis and human African trypanosomiasis, and the strengthening of strategic partnerships, including cooperation with the Carter Center and Brazil.
Despite this progress, significant challenges remain. In Angola, only 26.4% of people who needed preventive chemotherapy received treatment in 2024, which is clearly insufficient coverage. There are still more than 800 new cases of leprosy each year, many diagnosed late, with visible physical disabilities. Transmission of human African trypanosomiasis remains active, and dracunculiasis is still present in Cunene province, mainly in animals, requiring integrated, multisectoral approaches and continuous surveillance.
These data indicate the need to strengthen the integration of NTD interventions into primary health care and routine health services. The elimination of these diseases will not be achieved through one-off projects alone, but through sustained investment, effective coordination, and strong national leadership.
The WHO Roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2030 provides a clear strategic framework. It is now up to policymakers, partners, and society at large to translate this commitment into concrete action. Investing in the fight against NTDs is investing in the dignity, productivity, and future of Angola.
Eliminating neglected tropical diseases is a choice of development and social justice that the country can no longer afford to postpone.
